Thursday, May 23, 2013
Newport joined Middletown and Portsmouth to make feeding and leaving food outdoors illegal.
In an attempt to control the coyote population, Newport has joined Middletown and Portsmouth to prohibit feeding wild animals. The Newport City Council unanimously approved the ordinance Wednesday with a stated purpose, “to protect the health and safety of residents in the City of Newport with respect to dangers associated with coyotes and other non-domesticated animals by minimizing opportunities for such animals to obtain food from sources controlled or controllable by humans.” Christie Smith, executive director of the Potter League for Animals, said it is important Newport joins the other communities on Aquidneck Island. “These animals don’t know where one town border ends and where one begins,” said Smith. “Newport can step up to the …
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The town of Portsmouth has approved an Anti-Feeding Coyotes Ordinance, making it the second community in the state with such an ordinance.
The town of Portsmouth has approved an ordinance which mirrors Middletown's "No Coyote-Feeding Ordinance," according to Town Councilor Keith Hamilton on Tuesday. The vote was 7-0 in approval of the ordinance. "Dr. Numi Mitchell said we should see positive results by the fall as long as residents abide by the ordinance," wrote council President James Seveney in an e-mail. Several residents have recently complained about an increase in coyote sightings in town. Earlier this month, we asked if Portsmouth had a coyote problem on Portsmouth Patch's Facebook page. Here's what a couple users had to say. Chris Redfern Carceller: From the amount of cats missing in town, and the loss of a friend's small dog due to a coyote attack last month, I …
Monday, February 11, 2013
The Town Council will hold a public hearing tonight to discuss a proposed Anti-Coyote Feeding Ordinance, making Portsmouth only the second in state with such a law. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Town Hall (weather permitting).
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
The town of Portsmouth plans to draft an Anti-Feeding Coyotes Ordinance, making it the second community in the state with such an ordinance.
The town of Portsmouth is planning to create an ordinance which mirrors Middletown's "No Coyote-Feeding Ordinance," according to Town Councilor Keith Hamilton on Tuesday. The council has "directed the solicitor to create an anti-wildlife feeding ordinance to mirror Middletown's," wrote Hamilton in an e-mail. The decision was made during Monday night's council meeting at Town Hall. Several residents have recently complained about an increase in coyote sightings in town. Earlier this week, we asked if Portsmouth had a coyote problem on Portsmouth Patch's Facebook page. Here's what a couple users had to say. Chris Redfern Carceller: From the amount of cats missing in town, and the loss of a friend's small dog due to a coyote attack last …
Monday, January 28, 2013
The Portsmouth Town Council will meet tonight at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
The Portsmouth Town Council will take up a number of issues tonight, including hearing updates on a potential "coyote issue" in town. According to the meeting agenda, the council will discuss "a Potential Coyote-Related Ordinance and Update on Coyote-Related Issues." The council will also hear from three applicants who are interested in serving on the Portsmouth School Committee. A seat on the school committee became vacant this past November after member Jonathan Harris resigned one day after the General Election. The town council is responsible for appointing a member to the committee. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. To see the full agenda, click here.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Should the town of Portsmouth try to control the coyote population?
As the days grow shorter and winter eventually sets in, the food supply for coyotes will grow more scarce and the risk to pets and livestock might increase. According to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), Coyotes have been part of Rhode Island’s fauna for more than 30 years and are an important component of the ecosystem. The DEM claims that campaigns to reduce the population are expensive and are generally unsuccessful. Despite that, several Middletown residents have called for coyote population control. "It's hunting season, let's get some professionals down here to take care of this once and for all," said reader Paul Bertel. A reader who goes by the alias ALL animal lover added that residents should not have…
Monday, October 1, 2012
An encounter with a coyote reminds us to not leave our pets unattended
About one month ago, I took my two Shih Tzus, Mochie and Meatball, for their evening walk up Green End Avenue, a routine that is rivaled only by a trip to the bank (which comes a cookie). Although our regular path cuts through the baseball field behind the Middletown Senior Center, one animal had a different plan for our evening. Throughout the summer, I had witnessed glimpses of the creature; the shadow of his tail as he ran across the street, a flash of fur as he jumped into the brush. This time, as if to formally introduce himself, the coyote stood his ground, in the middle of the sidewalk. I knew he was not curious to meet me; but rather my two, over-trusting, well padded companions. I clapped my hands and yelled. The coyote slowly…
Monday, April 4, 2011
Signatures have been collected from Aquidneck Island residents at a Newport business owner's store and from around the world through an online petition.
A Newport woman has gathered nearly 300 petition signatures from opponents to Middletown's plans to hire a hunter to kill coyotes. Shana Gaines, a Newport resident and former Middletown resident, has collected about 30 percent of the signatures from Aquidneck Island residents on hard-copy petitions made available at her "Vintage to Vogue" clothing store on Thames Street in Newport, and the rest from animal rights activists and opponents from across the United States and around the world through her online petition, titled "Stop the Mass Killing of Coyotes in Rhode Island." “I just started (the petitions) because what they’re doing is wrong,” Gaines said at her store, which is open only on weekends. Gaines intends to address the Middletown…
Saturday, March 12, 2011
With the coyote population on the rise on Aquidneck Island, how should local officials deal with "problem" coyotes?
Earlier this week, we brought the story on how local and state authorities are taking the first steps to reduce the coyote population on Aquidneck Island. Part of that plan will include a short-term approach—culling the problem coyotes that pose a greater threat to humans immediately in the more residential areas, through humane traps and euthanizing the wild animals. The long-term part of the plan will involve passive coyote management practices that focus on educating the public, enforcing existing laws that prohibit wildlife feeding, possibly increasing fines for feeding wildlife, disposing of dead farm animals, livestock and wild animal carcasses rapidly and more. But we want to hear your opinion on this issue: How do you think the …
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Christine Fagan of Middletown sends an open letter to the Portsmouth Town Council warning them of a coyote problem. Fagan says her dog was killed by a coyote in a recent attack.
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Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The following is an open letter to the Portsmouth Town Council. This letter was sent prior to Tuesday's meeting: Dear Portsmouth Town Council members, Please see this link regarding coyote attacks on humans: http://varmintal.com/attac.htm We have a serious problem with coyotes on Aquidneck Island. As a result there will be an all-island Coyote Summit held on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. at the Gaudet School (Turner Road entrance) in Middletown. I hope that you will participate in this event as all the communities of the island need to be part of the solution to this crisis. It is important that action be taken sooner than later. Our 50-pound lab/Akita mixed-breed dog was recently killed as a result of a coyote attack in our yard. The …
BILL KELLY
9:00 am on Monday, April 1, 2013
Our cat defended himself last night and beat back a coyote on our porch... They are bold and getting bolder. more ›